Butterflies Seen
I want to thank you all once again for your wonderful contributions to this count. I couldn't do it without all of your great help!
Overall, our totals were pretty good this year. Surprisingly so, based on a lack of nectar, especially in the lower elevations. 76 species is very presentable, though. Only 4 shy of Patagonia this year! We've only beat them once, in 2023, with 83 species, which was the highest count in the nation! Fourteen Individuals in 5 parties found and identified:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 16
- Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 2
- Western Giant Swallowtail Papilio Rumiko 3
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 24
- Checkered White Pontia protodice 5
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 5
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 10
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 127
- Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe 1
- Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside 2
- Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana 20
- Tailed Orange Eurema proterpia 4
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 46
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 41
- Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 14
- Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exile 33
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 16
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus 95
- Central Dotted-Blue Euphilotes centralis 4
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 22
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 25
- Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon texana 1
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 1
- Arizona Metalmark Calephelis arizonensis
- Zela Metalmark Emesis zela 1
- Ares Metalmark Emesis ares 1
- Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo 14
- Palmer's Metalmark Apodemia palmeri 4
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 141
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanilla 1
- Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 20
- Mexican Fritillary Euptoieta hegesia 1
- Theona Checkerspot Chlosyne Theona 1
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 62
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 2
- Arizona Checkerspot Texola perse 35
- Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta 2
- Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus 1
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 142
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 2
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 2
- ‘Arizona’ California Sister Adelpha bredowii 12
- Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton 1
- Canyonland Satyr Cyllopsis pertepida 1
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 23
- Monarch Danaus Plexippus 2
- Queen Danaus gilippus 33
- Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes 5
- Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 6
- Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 2
- Northern Cloudywing Cecropterus pylades 194
- Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius 7
- Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 16
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 34
- ‘Arizona’ Juvenal's Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis clitus 4
- Meridian Duskywing Erynnis meridianus 2
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 2
- Pacuvius Duskywing Erynnis pacuvius 2
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 4
- Common/White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis/albescens 6
- Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas 2
- Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus 2
- White-tufted Sootywing Pholisora albicirrus 80
- Four-spotted Skipperling Piruna polingi 9
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 10
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia Pahaska 1
- Taxiles Skipper Poanes taxiles 5
- Moon-marked Skipper Atrytonopsis lunus 6
- Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria 2
- Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 7
- Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 29
- Elissa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes elissa 1
- Texas Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes texanae 12
- Nysa Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes nysa 1
- Dotted Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes eos 1
- Arizona Giant-Skipper Agathymus aryxna 1
Total 76 species, 1481 individuals.
Final results of the 43rd annual Patagonia count (# and Species in bold print have been recorded on every count):
# SPECIES
HESPERIIDAE - SKIPPERS
10 Apyrrothrix stallingsi - Dull firetip
15 B. albescens/communis - Checkered skipper sp.
17 Burnsius philetas - Desert checkered-skipper
2 Cecropterus casica - Desert cloudywing
36 Cecropterus dorantes - Dorantes longtail
4 Cecropterus drusius - Drusius cloudywing
432 Cecropterus pylades - Northern cloudywing
30 Celotes sabinus - Arizona streaky skipper
4 Codatractus arizonensis - Arizona skipper
126 Cogia hippalus - Acacia skipper
9 Erynnis funeralis - Funereal duskywing
4 Erynnis tristis - Mournful duskywing
156 Pholisora albicirrus - White-tufted sootywing
84 Staphylus ceos - Golden-headed scallopwing
2 Systasia zampa - Arizona powdered-skipper
0 Adopaeoides prittwitzi - Sunrise skipper
15 Amblyscirtes aenus - Bronze roadside-skipper
1 Amblyscirtes cassus - Cassus roadside-skipper
3 Amblyscirtes elissa - Elissa roadside-skipper
5 Amblyscirtes eos - Dotted roadside-skipper
3 Amblyscirtes exoteria - Large roadside-skipper
2 Amblyscirtes nysa - Nysa roadside-skipper
9 Amblyscirtes texanae - Texas roadside-skipper
1 Amblyscirtes tolteca - Toltec roadside-skipper
2 Ancyloxypha arene - Tropical least skipper
1 Atalopedes campestris - Sachem
0 Atrytonopsis edwardsi - Sheep skipper
2 Calpodes ethlius - Brazilian skipper
2 Hesperia pahaska - Pahaska skipper
49 Hylephila phyleus - Fiery skipper
2 Lerema ochrius - Ocherous clouded skipper
2 Lerodea eufala - Eufala skipper
22 Oarisma aurantiaca - Orange skipperling
1 Polites carus - Carus skipper
PAPILIONIDAE - SWALLOWTAILS
119 Battus philenor - Pipevine swallowtail
6 Papilio polyxenes - Black swallowtail
33 Pterourus multicaudata - Two-tailed swallowtail
PIERIDAE - WHITES AND SULPHURS
49 Eurema mexicana - Mexican yellow
57 Eurema nicippe - Sleepy orange
45 Eurema proterpia - Tailed orange
7 Colias eurytheme - Orange sulphur
19 Kricogonia lyside - Lyside sulphur
59 Nathalis iole - Dainty sulphur
2 Phoebis agarithe - Large orange sulphur
1381 Phoebis sennae - Cloudless sulphur
2 Pieris rapae - Cabbage white
2 Pontia protodice - Checkered white
38 Zerene cesonia - Southern dogface
RIODINIDAE - METALMARKS
2 Apodemia ares - Ares metalmark
1 Apodemia mejicanus - Mexican metalmark
12 Apodemia zela - Zela metalmark
1 Calephelis arizonensis - Arizona metalmark
26 Calephelis nemesis - Fatal metalmark
LYCAENIDAE - BLUES AND HAIRSTREAKS
1 Atlides halesus - Great blue hairstreak
1 Ministrymon leda - Leda ministreak
2 Strymon melinus - Gray hairstreak
35 Brephidium exilis - Western pygmy blue
7 Echinargus isola - Reakirt's blue
68 Hemiargus ceraunus - Ceraunus blue
1 Icaricia acmon - Texas acmon blue
35 Leptotes marina - Marine blue
LIBYTHEIDAE - SNOUT BUTTERFLIES
549 Libytheana carinenta - American snout
NYMPHALIDAE - BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES
20 Anthanassa texana - Texas crescent
4 Asterocampa leilia - Empress leilia
1 Asterocampa clyton - Tawny emperor
629 Chlosyne lacinia - Bordered patch
9 Chlosyne theona - Theona checkerspot
6 Cissia rubricata - Red satyr
1 Cyllopsis pyracmon - Nabokov's satyr
49 Danaus gilippus - Queen
28 Dione vanillae - Gulf fritillary
335 Dymasia dymas - Tiny checkerspot
17 Euptoieta claudia - Variegated fritillary
3 Junonia coenia - Common buckeye
2 Junonia nigrosuffusa - Tropical buckeye
3 Limenitis archippus - Viceroy
1 Limenitis a. arizonensis - Red-spotted purple
1 Nymphalis antiopa - Mourning cloak
6 Phyciodes picta - Painted crescent
280 Texola perse - Arizona checkerspot
6 Vanessa cardui - Painted lady
80 TOTAL SPECIES COUNTED
5099 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS COUNTED
Considering the ongoing drought in SE AZ and extreme heat on count day, the 13 individual counters in 7 parties had a pretty successful count. A huge thanks for all of your efforts! We hope you can join us for the fall count about the end of September - date TBA.
The highlights:
- 65 species - and new to the count: Hammock Skipper, Tropical Least Skipper, and Sheep Skipper (species in bold print).
- Highest numbers for Cloudless Sulphur, Bordered Patch, Acacia Skipper, and Dotted Roadside-skipper.
- Highest number of individuals counted on any previous summer count.
Butterflies identified and counted:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 13
- Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 3
- Western Giant Swallowtail Papilio Rumiko 6
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 52
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 11
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 3
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 480
- Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside 15
- Mexican Yellow Eurema mexicana 12
- Tailed Orange Eurema proterpia 2
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 12
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 3
- Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 6
- Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda 2
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 16
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus Ceraunus 51
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 7
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 41
- Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon 2
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 2
- Arizona Metalmark Calephelis arizonensis 7
- Zela Metalmark Emesis zela 3
- Palmer's Metalmark Apodemia palmeri 1
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 55
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanilla 3
- Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 2
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 627
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 168
- Arizona Checkerspot Texola elada perse 588
- Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana 7
- American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 2
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 1
- West Coast Lady Vanessa Annabella 1
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 12
- Weidemeyer's Admiral Limenitis weidemeyerii
- Arizona Sister Adelpha eulalia 23
- Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 5
- Nabokov's Satyr Cyllopsis pyracmon 5
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 42
- Queen Danaus gilippus 19
- Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes 27
- Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 2
- Hammock Skipper Polygonus leo 1
- Arizona Skipper Codatractus arizonensis 17
- Dorantes Longtail Urbanus Dorantes 7
- Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 1
- Northern Cloudywing Cecropterus pylades 295
- Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius 2
- Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 151
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 33
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 2
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 3
- Desert Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus philetas 35
- Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus 23
- White-tufted Sootywing Pholisora albicirrus 23
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 12
- Pahaska Skipper Hesperia Pahaska 2
- Tropical least skipper (Ancyloxypha arene) 1
- Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi) 1
- Taxiles Skipper Poanes taxiles 8
- Large Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes exoteria 8
- Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 10
- Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 19
- Texas Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes texanae 2
- Dotted Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes eos 7
Total individuals counted: 3050
As expected, the butterfly survey results were notably low, though it was not quite as bad as I had anticipated. There were, however, a few exciting finds. Edwards' Skipperling has only appeared on the count one other time (2018), and Moon-marked Skipper is also quite rare for the area and has only been recorded twice during the count (2019 and 2022). Lyside Sulphurs were also present in good numbers, resulting in our highest summer count for the species.
Several species that we typically expect to see were absent, including a number of Lycaenidae such as Reakirt's Blue, Leda Ministreak, Gray Hairstreak, and, of course, Colorado Hairstreak. Overall, conditions never seemed especially productive at any site, which has been the trend for the past month or so. Despite that, it's somewhat surprising that we recorded the fifth-highest total number of individuals over the nearly 20 years of surveys, while tying for seventh in species diversity. We had another excellent turnout this year, allowing us to cover a large area, which undoubtedly contributed to those totals.
There is certainly a great deal to consider given the prolonged lack of rainfall over the past few years. It will be interesting to see how the monsoon develops over the next several weeks and whether butterfly numbers begin to rebound. Here's hoping they do.
Without further ado, here are the official results of the 2026 Summer Sabino/Catalina Mtns. butterfly count:
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
1 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 46
2 Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 4
3 W. Giant Swallowtail (Papilio rumiko) 3
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
4 Checkered White (Pontia protodice) 1
5 Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) 1
6 Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 8
7 Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) 10
8 Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) 80
9 Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside) 318
10 Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) 14
11 Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) 17
12 Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) 6
Sulphur sp? 3
Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)
13 'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) 1
14 Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna) 3
15 Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) 1
16 Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 7
17 Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) 11
18 'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) 280
Blue sp? 8
Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
19 Nais Metalmark - (Apodemia nais) 17
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
20 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 4
21 Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) 4
22 Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) 4
23 Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 23
24 Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) 20
25 Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) 8
26 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 11
Tiny/Elada Checkerspot 10
27 Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea) 2
28 Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia) 2
29 Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) 8
30 Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon) 12
31 Queen (Danaus gilippus) 11
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
32 Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes) 2
33 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) 1
34 Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica) 2
35 Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 11
36 Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus) 17
37 Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) 6
38 Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) 2
39 Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius) 24
40 Common Checkered-Skipper - (Pyrgus communis) 1
41 Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) 1
42 Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) 4
43 Edwards' Skipperling (Oarisma edwardsii) 1
44 Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) 3
45 Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 6
46 Taxiles Skipper (Poanes taxiles) 29
47 Moon-marked Skipper (Atrytonopsis lunus) 2
48 Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria) 1
49 Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) 1
Total Individuals: 1072
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who came out this year and took part in this year’s count!
Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in this year’s count! We had a total of 27 people in the field, divided into 14 groups, covering approximately 46.9 miles on foot.
In terms of overall numbers, we recorded a record high 68 species this year (67 species in 2025 & 2022), along with by far the highest number of individuals (15,255). Due to the record-breaking warm temperatures experienced over the winter, coupled with early-season rains, many species emerged earlier than usual this year which added to the excitement of possibly finding something new.
It’s worth noting that this year’s count took place approximately one week later than usual. Given the advanced emergence of many early-season species, it was not unexpected that we miss several species we typically encounter including the spring pierids: Spring White, Desert Marble, and Sara and Desert Orangetip, of which none were recorded. We also missed Brown Elfin for only the second time on this count.
While we may have missed some early season stuff we did observe a few things that are missed by a week or two, such as Cestus Skipper and Bronze Roadside Skipper. In total we added 4 species to the list (Leda Ministreak, Mexican Metalmark, and the two noted above). The presence of these and abundance of others suggests that early emergence may continue as the season progresses.
The most exciting find, for the second year in a row(!), was a Bernardino Dotted Blue (Euphilotes bernardino). The first documented occurrence was during the 2025 Spring Count, and as far as I know this is only the second sighting in the Santa Catalinas. Congrats to you all!
Butterflies found and counted:
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
1 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 218
2 Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) 3
3 Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 36
4 W. Giant Swallowtail (Papilio rumiko) 1
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
5 Checkered White (Pontia protodice) 406
6 Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 11
7 Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) 95
8 Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) 37
9 Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) 132
10 Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) 53
11 Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) 102
Sulphur sp. 5
Phoebis sp? 1
Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)
12 Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) 1
13 'Siva' Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) 4
14 Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 78
15 Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa) 1
16 Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna) 4
17 Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda) 8
18 Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 12362
19 Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) 4
20 'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) 196
21 Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) 31
22 Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) 40
23 Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon texana) 6
24 Bernardino Dotted Blue (Euphilotes bernardino) 1
Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
25 Mexican Metalmark (Apodemia mejicanus) 11
26 Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) 2
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
27 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 505
28 Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) 6
29 Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta cludia) 2
30 Fulvia Checkerspot (Chlosyne fulvia) 4
31 Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) 25
32 Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus) 3
33 Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 7
34 Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) 60
35 Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana) 157
36 Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) 41
37 Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) 2
38 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 3
39 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 6
40 American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) 6
41 Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) 5
42 Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia) 11
43 Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) 297
44 Nabokov's Satyr (Cyllopsis pyracmon) 4
45 Monarch (Danaus plexippus) 2
46 Queen (Danaus gilippus) 34
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
47 Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus) 5
48 Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 1
49 Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica) 2
50 Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus) 36
51 Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) 10
52 Arizona Powdered-Skipper (Systasea zampa) 10
53 Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo) 1
54 Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus) 1
55 Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) 4
56 Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius) 39
57 Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) 13
58 White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus albescens) 31
59 Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) 2
60 Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) 2
61 Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) 29
62 Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 1
63 Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska) 2
64 Cestus Skipper (Atrytonopsis cestus) 4
65 White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus) 19
66 Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsii) 7
67 Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) 3
68 Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala) 1
Duskywing sp? (Erynnis sp?) 3
Totals 15,255
Seventeen counters in 6 parties scoured the Santa Rita Mtns for butterflies on a nice, sunny day to be in the field! Unfortunately, the party planned for the high country called in sick at the last minute, so we didn't get coverage high up in the mountains so undoubtedly we missed missed finding a few species. Count numbers reflect the continuing severe drought in the area alnong with a late, less than average Monsoon Season. Three species that are new to the count are in BOLD print. Butterflies observed and counted:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 15
- Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 2
- Western Giant Swallowtail Papilio Rumiko 9
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 22
- Checkered White Pontia protodice 4
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 7
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 80
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 7
- Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 9
- Tailed Orange Eurema proterpia 151
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 19
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 90
- Great Purple Hairstreak Atlides halesus 1
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 70
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus Ceraunus 70
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 6
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 16
- Fatal Metalmark Calephelis nemesis 1
- Ares Metalmark Emesis ares 1
- Palmer's Metalmark Apodemia palmeri 25
- American Snout Libytheana carinenta 148
- Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanilla 2
- Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 18
- Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia 23
- Tiny Checkerspot Dymasia dymas 6
- Elada (AZ) Checkerspot Texola elada 405
- Texan Crescent Phyciodes texana 1
- Vesta Crescent Phyciodes vesta 1
- Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos 2
- American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 5
- Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 13
- ‘Dark’ Tropical Buckeye J.genoveva nigrosuffusa 1
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 23
- ‘Arizona’ California Sister Adelpha bredowii 16
- Hackberry Emperor Asterocampa celtis 12
- Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 62
- Tawny Emperor Asterocampa clyton 5
- Red-bordered Satyr Gyrocheilus patrobas 68
- Monarch Danaus Plexippus 1
- Queen Danaus gilippus 32
- Dull Firetip Pyrrhopyge araxes 52
- Dorantes Longtail Urbanus Dorantes 10
- Desert Cloudywing Achalarus casica 2
- Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 1
- Acacia Skipper Cogia hippalus 4
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 8
- Arizona Powdered-Skipper Systasea zampa 1
- Mournful Duskywing Erynnis tristis 1
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 16
- Common/White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus albis/communis 5
- Common Streaky-Skipper Celotes nessus 1
- Common Sootywing Pholisora Catullus 1
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus
- Arizona Giant-Skipper Agathymus aryxna 2
Phoebus sp. 2
Pyrisitia/Abaeis sp. 80
Blue sp. 38
Total Individuals 2,136
Species counted:
HESPERIIDAE - SKIPPERS
B. albescens/communis - Checkered skipper sp. 11
Cecropterus casica - Desert cloudywing 2
Cecropterus drusius - Drusius cloudywing 11
Cecropterus pylades - Northern cloudywing 393
Celotes sabinus - Arizona streaky skipper 19
Codatractus arizonensis - Arizona skipper 4
Cogia hippalus - Acacia skipper 140
Erynnis funeralis - Funereal duskywing 3
Erynnis tristis - Mournful duskywing 1
Pholisora albicirrus - White-clouded sootywing 250
Staphylus ceos - Golden-headed scallopwing 487
Amblyscirtes aenus - Bronze roadside-skipper 16
Amblyscirtes elissa - Elissa roadside-skipper 1
Amblyscirtes eos - Dotted roadside-skipper 8
Amblyscirtes exoteria - Large roadside-skipper 2
Amblyscirtes nereus - Slaty roadside-skipper 1
Amblyscirtes nysa - Nysa roadside-skipper 3
Amblyscirtes texanae - Texas roadside-skipper 10
Amblyscirtes tolteca - Toltec roadside-skipper 4
Ancyloxypha arene - Tropical least skipper 29
Atrytonopsis lunus - Moon-marked skipper 17
Hylephila phyleus - Fiery skipper 7
Lerodea eufala - Eufala skipper 2
Oarisma aurantiaca - Orange skipperling 10
PAPILIONIDAE - SWALLOWTAILS
Battus philenor - Pipevine swallowtail 84
Heraclides rumiko - Western giant swallowtail 1
Papilio polyxenes - Black swallowtail 1
Pterourus multicaudata - Two-tailed swallowtail 2
PIERIDAE - WHITES AND SULPHURS
Eurema nicippe - Sleepy orange 112
Eurema proterpia - Tailed orange 4
Kricogonia lyside - Lyside sulphur 16
Nathalis iole - Dainty sulphur 1
Phoebis agarithe - Large orange sulphur 1
Phoebis sennae - Cloudless sulphur 75
Pieris rapae - Cabbage white 4
Pontia protodice - Checkered white 3
Zerene cesonia - Southern dogface 66
RIODINIDAE - METALMARKS
Apodemia palmerii - Palmer's metalmark 71
Apodemia zela - Zela metalmark 38
Calephelis arizonensis - Arizona metalmark 5
Calephelis nemesis - Fatal metalmark 4
LYCAENIDAE - BLUES AND HAIRSTREAKS
Atlides halesus - Great blue hairstreak 1
Callophrys siva - Juniper hairstreak 26
Ministrymon leda - Leda ministreak 25
Strymon melinus - Gray hairstreak 9
Echinargus isola - Reakirt's blue 3
Hemiargus ceraunus - Ceraunus blue 925
Icaricia acmon - Texas acmon blue 0
Leptotes marina - Marine blue 80
LIBYTHEIDAE - SNOUT BUTTERFLIES
Libytheana carinenta - American snout 8
NYMPHALIDAE - BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES
Adelpha eulalia - Arizona sister 1
Anthanassa texana - Texas crescent 78
Asterocampa leilia - Empress leilia 4
Chlosyne lacinia - Bordered patch 986
Chlosyne theona - Theona checkerspot 11
Cissia rubricata - Red satyr 44
Dione vanillae - Gulf fritillary 19
Dymasia dymas - Tiny checkerspot 270
Euptoieta claudia - Variegated fritillary 21
Limenitis archippus - Viceroy 6
Limenitis a. arizonensis - Red-spotted purple 1
Phyciodes picta - Painted crescent 9
Texola perse - Arizona checkerspot 804
TOTAL SPECIES: 64
We ended up with a total of 49 species, which I think is quite extraordinary, considering how dry it was here overall. The only real blooms we had were at the Visitor Center & in our lovely neighbors' gardens! We had 4 different "groups" this year, each contributing a few butteflies not found by the others. Count results:
- Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 4
- Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 1
- Two-tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 10
- Checkered White Pontia protodice 2
- Cabbage White Pieris rapae 2
- Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme 373
- Southern Dogface Colias cesonia 23
- Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae 11
- Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside 1
- Mexican Yellow Eurema Mexicana 4
- Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe 11
- Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole 9
- Thicket Hairstreak Callophrys spinetorum 1
- Siva' Juniper Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus siva 31
- Gray Hairstreak Strymon melinus 1
- Leda Ministreak Ministrymon leda 1
- Marine Blue Leptotes marina 80
- Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus Ceraunus 82
- Central Dotted-Blue Euphilotes centralis 15
- Reakirt’s Blue Hemiargus isola 5
- ‘Echo’ Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 1
- Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo 17
- Palmer's Metalmark Apodemia palmeri 1
- Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 43
- Elada Checkerspot Texola elada 5
- American Lady Vanessa virginiensis 1
- Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 2
- Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax 1
- ‘Arizona’ California Sister Adelpha bredowii 1
- Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 1
- Red Satyr Megisto rubricata 22
- Monarch Danaus Plexippus 1
- Queen Danaus gilippus 11
- Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 4
- Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades 47
- Drusius Cloudywing Thorybes drusius 3
- Golden-headed Scallopwing Staphylus ceos 30
- Funereal Duskywing Erynnis funeralis 3
- Common/White Checkered-Skipper Pyrgus communis/albis 4
- Common Sootywing Pholisora Catullus 33
- Four-spotted Skipperling Piruna polingi 1
- Orange Skipperling Copaeodes aurantiacus 5
- Snow's Skipper Paratrytone snowi 1
- Taxiles Skipper Poanes taxiles 6
- Moon-marked Skipper Atrytonopsis lunus 3
- Cassus Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes cassus 1
- Bronze Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes aenus 5
- Texas Roadside-Skipper Amblyscirtes texanae 5
- Orange-edged Roadsd-Sk Ambyscirtes fimbriate 1
Total 49 species 928 individuals.
Field Notes: Severe drought, carried over from previous year. Hardly anything blooming, except in gardens.
The high temperatures made it one of the more challenging days in the field, but I think we all did our best given the conditions. Unsurprisingly, our totals were among the lowest we’ve ever recorded—just barely surpassing 2020’s numbers.
As some may recall, 2020 was the second driest year on record in Tucson (4.17 inches) and also when the Bighorn Fire consumed a large portion of the mountain. Looking at rainfall from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, we’ve likely just experienced the third driest 12-month span on record (4.56 inches). If you omit August and July, the 10-month rainfall total drops to just 1.54 inches—possibly the lowest ever recorded for that length of time. Timing is everything, and with the lack of consistent monsoon moisture and winter rains, we’re clearly seeing the negative impacts on the region’s flora and fauna.
One of the most striking findings from this year’s count, which I also noticed from the Santa Rita count a couple days prior, was the scarcity of brush-footed butterflies: just 8 individuals we observed on this year’s count, representing 7 species. This is by far the lowest total we’ve ever recorded for this group. Count results:
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
1 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 14
2 Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 6
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
3 Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 10
4 Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) 14
5 Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) 27
6 Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside) 8
7 Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) 1
8 Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) 5
Sulphur sp? 7
Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)
9 Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum) 1
10 Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 1
11 Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna) 3
12 Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 47
13 Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) 5
14 Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) 1
15 'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) 7
Blue sp? 3
Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
16 Fatal Metalmark - (Calephelis nemesis) 2
17 Nais Metalmark - (Apodemia nais) 42
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
18 Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) 1
19 Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 1
20 Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) 1
21 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 1
Comma sp.? (Polygonia sp.) 1
22 Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) 1
23 Queen (Danaus gilippus) 2
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
24 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) 2
25 Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 5
26 Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus) 8
27 Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) 6
28 Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) 2
29 Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius) 12
30 Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) 1
31 Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) 3
32 Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca) 1
33 Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) 1
34 Taxiles Skipper (Poanes taxiles) 52
35 Cassus Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes cassus) 1
36 Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) 1
Species Total: 36
Individuals 307
As expected butterfly survey results were notably low, likely due to the combined effects of limited rainfall and prolonged above average temperatures. While I haven’t found a good resource for rainfall information in Madera Canyon, there is information available from Green Valley. Based on rainfall totals from NOAA and Rainlog it looks like the Green Valley area has received roughly 5 inches of rain from the beginning of August 2024 through the end of July of this year. For comparison, the yearly average for Green Valley is about 13.5 inches/year, so we’re well below the normal range.
The highest rainfall total in the past 12 months occurred just last month, with 2.63 inches recorded in July 2025. Nearly all of it fell during two events—approximately 0.9 inches on July 3–4 and 1.63 inches on July 16. This prolonged lack of consistent moisture has significantly limited new plant growth, leaving most nectar sources and host plants in poor condition. With rain in the forecast later this week, we can only hope it arrives and brings some much-needed relief to the region.
While numbers were incredibly low overall we did record an all-time high for one species (Lyside Sulphur) which was likely a result of a recent irruption in Mexico. The previous record high for Lyside Sulphur during the summer count was 5 (2015).
The official results of the 2025 Summer Santa Rita butterfly count:
Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
1 Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) 8
2 Two-Tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) 17
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
3 Checkered White (Pontia protodice) 3
4 Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) 25
5 Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) 2
6 Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) 17
7 Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) 5
8 Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside) 71
9 Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana) 1
10 Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe) 3
Hairstreaks and Blues (Lycaenidae)
11 Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) 1
12 Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda) 2
13 Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exile) 1
14 Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) 191
15 'Echo' Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) 2
16 Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) 132
17 Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) 3
Metalmarks (Riodinidae)
18 Palmer's Metalmark (Apodemia palmerii) 10
Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
19 American Snout (Libytheana carinenta) 70
20 Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) 2
21 Theona Checkerspot (Chlosyne theona) 2
22 Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia) 64
23 Tiny Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas) 73
24 Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada) 106
25 Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 1
26 Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) 4
27 Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia) 1
28 Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia) 26
29 Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) 1
30 Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata) 23
31 Queen (Danaus gilippus) 3
Satyr sp. 6
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
32 Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) 2
33 Arizona Skipper (Codatractus arizonensis) 30
34 Desert Cloudywing (Achalarus casica) 7
35 Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 31
36 Drusius Cloudywing (Thorybes drusius) 1
37 Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus) 87
38 Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos) 14
39 Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) 2
40 Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) 7
41 Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus) 14
42 Orange Skipperling (C. aurantiaca) 1
43 Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska) 1
44 Taxiles Skipper (Poanes taxiles) 3
45 Moon-marked Skipper (Atrytonopsis lunus) 10
46 Large Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes exoteria) 6
47 Cassus Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes cassus) 5
48 Bronze Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus) 10
49 Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala) 1
Atrytonopsis sp. 1
Amblyscirtes sp. 1
INDIVIDUALS RECORDED 1110
SPECIES RECORDED 49